Skip to content
Vincony — fast, managed web hosting for your next site
The Pilots Desk
Medium airportScheduled service

El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport

IATA FTEICAO SAWCLocal ECA🇦🇷 El Calafate
Coordinates
50.2803°S, 72.0534°W
Elevation
669 ft (204 m)
Type
Medium airport
Region
AR-Z
Time zone
Rio Gallegos(UTC-03:00)
Magnetic variation
11.7° E

Daylight today(Aug 29, 2026, local time)

Civil dawn
07:58
Sunrise
08:31
Sunset
19:10
Civil dusk
19:43

About 10h 39m of daylight. Civil twilight (dawn/dusk) approximates the FAA definition of night for logging and currency. Times are computed and approximate — verify with official sources.

About El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport

El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport

Comandante Armando Tola International Airport is an airport in Santa Cruz Province, Argentina. It is located approximately 21 km (13 mi) east of the city of El Calafate. The airport is jointly operated by the government and London Supply. The airport is served by Aerolíneas Argentinas, DAP and LADE. It is the westernmost Argentinian airport served by scheduled flights.

Summary from Wikipedia, photo via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA.

Live weather

SAWC
Checking for pilot reports…

NOTAMs

SAWC

Reference only — not an official briefing. Always obtain a certified briefing (e.g. 1800wxbrief.com / your AIS) before flight.

NOTAM data via the FAA NOTAM system.

Live departures & arrivals

Loading live flights…

Flight data by AeroDataBox. Times are estimates — not for navigation; confirm with the airline.

Where you can fly from here

Loading current routes…

Current scheduled routes & daily frequency by AeroDataBox. Approximate — confirm bookable schedules with the airline.

Live traffic nearby

Aircraft currently within ~40 nm, from live ADS-B. Positions are approximately real-time — not for navigation.

Loading live traffic…

Live ADS-B by adsb.lol & the OpenSky Network. Not for navigation.

Map

Runway centrelines, navaids and overlapping airspace. Tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Reference only — not for navigation.

Runways (1)

RunwayLengthWidthSurfaceLightingStatus
7 / 258,366 ft / 2,550 m148 ftConLightedOpen

Radio frequencies (2)

TypeDescriptionFrequency
APPAPP/TWR119.950 MHz
GNDGND121.800 MHz

Services & operations

Services
Check InPassenger Information

The airport advises arriving 2 hours early for flights.

From the airport’s official website — details may change, so confirm with the airport. Official site

Navaids(2)

Airlines & destinations

Nonstop destinations (3)

Route data from OpenFlights — historical and may be out of date. Check current schedules.

Airspace in this area(3)

NameClassTypeFloorCeiling
TMA EL CALAFATE 1Class CTMA2000 ft GNDFL135
EL CALAFATE CTRClass CCTRGND4500 ft MSL
FIR COMODOROSpecial useFIRGNDFL999

Approximate bounding-box match from OpenAIP · all Argentina airspace. Reference only — consult official charts for exact boundaries and status.

VFR reporting points nearby

PointDistanceBearingReporting
TODLO5.7 nm265°On request
UGOXU5.7 nm085°On request
GIGLU6.7 nm325°On request
VUSDO7.6 nm085°On request
UKLOV10.7 nm265°On request
ISAXO11.2 nm085°On request
TORUK12.2 nm294°On request
PONRO14.3 nm108°On request
ATIPO14.4 nm062°On request
ATEXI15.6 nm265°On request

Named VFR reporting points within ~20 nm; distance and bearing are from the airport reference point. Data via OpenAIP. Reference only — check the current VAC/AIP for procedures and whether a report is required.

Nearby airports

Great-circle distance and true bearing from El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport.

Official site Wikipedia Live ATC audio Live tracking (FR24) Open in Maps
🇦🇷 More airports in Argentina📘 Flying in Argentina: a pilot's guide

Frequently asked questions

What is the ICAO code for El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport?

The ICAO code for El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport is SAWC, and its IATA code is FTE.

Where is El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport located?

El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport is medium airport located in El Calafate, Argentina, at an elevation of 669 ft (204 m).

How many runways does El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport have?

El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport has 1 runway, the longest being 8,366 ft / 2,550 m.

Which airlines fly to El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport?

Airlines historically serving El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport include Aerolineas Argentinas, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (based on OpenFlights route data, which may be out of date).

How many destinations are served from El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport?

Historical data lists 3 nonstop destinations from El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport. Always check current schedules.

What time zone is El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport in?

El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport is in the America/Argentina/Rio Gallegos time zone (UTC-03:00).

What is the magnetic variation at El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport?

The magnetic variation (declination) at El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport is approximately 11.7° E, per the World Magnetic Model. Variation changes slowly over time — always use the current value charted for navigation.

What airports are near El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport?

The nearest airport to El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport is Estancia Río Bote Airport (AR-0717), about 12.6 nm to the e, followed by Gendarme Barreto West Airport and Estancia Tapi Aike Airport.

Is the information on this page suitable for flight planning?

No. El Calafate - Commander Armando Tola International Airport data here is for reference and training only — not for navigation. Always consult official sources and current charts before any flight.